[Sidenote:  EADBALD.] After the deceasse of Etthelbert, his sonne Eadbald succeeded in the gouernment of his kingdome of Kent, the which was a great hinderer of the increase of the new church amongst the Englishmen in those parties:  for he did not onelie refuse to be baptised himselfe, but also vsed such kind of fornication, as hath not beene heard (as the apostle saith) amongst the Gentiles, for he tooke to wife his mother in law, that had beene wife to his father.  By which two euill [Sidenote:  The princes example occasion of euill.] examples, manie tooke occasion to returne to their heathenish religion, the which whilest his father reigned, either for the prince his pleasure, or for feare to offend him, did professe the christian faith.  But Eadbald escaped not woorthie punishment to him sent from the liuing God for his euill deserts, insomuch that he was vexed with a certeine kind of madnesse, and taken with an vncleane spirit.

The foresaid storme or vnquiet troubling of the christian congregation, was afterwards greatlie increased also by the death of Sabert or Sebert king of the Eastsaxons, who was conuerted to the faith of Christ, and baptized by Melitus bishop of London (as before is mentioned) & departing this life to go to a better in the blissefull kingdome of heauen, he left behind him three sonnes as true successours in the estate of his earthlie kingdome, which sonnes [Sidenote:  Ran.  Cest. Beda li. 2. cap. 5.  Serred, Seward, and Sigebert, the sonnes of Sabert.] likewise refused to be baptised.  Their names were Serred, Seward, & Sigebert, men of an ill mind, & such as in whome no vertue remained, no feare of God, nor anie respect of religion, but speciallie hating the professours of the christian faith.  For after their father was dead, they began to fall to their old idolatrie, which in his life time they seemed to haue giuen ouer, insomuch that now they openlie worshipped idols, and gaue libertie to their subiects to do the like.

And when the bishop Melitus, at the solemnizing of masse in the church, distributed the eucharisticall bread vnto the people, they asked him (as it is said) wherfore he did not deliuer of that bright white bread vnto them also, as well as he had beene accustomed to doo to their father Saba (for so they vsed to call him.) Vnto whome the bishop made this answer:  “If you will be washed in that wholesome fountaine, wherein your father was washed, ye may be partakers of that holie bread whereof he was partaker, but if you despise the washpoole of life, ye may by no meanes tast the bread of saluation.”  But they offended herewith, replied in this wise:  “We will not enter into that fountaine, for we know we haue no need thereof:  but yet neuerthelesse we will be refreshed with that bread.”